Brazil – ANVISA publishes updated guide to questions and answers on dietary supplements

06/09/202207/09/2022 / infoAlimentario

The eighth edition of the Dietary Supplement Q&A document has 178 questions and answers with updated guidance on the regulatory framework for dietary supplements. In this edition, the following topics have been added or updated from the last edition:

a) introduction and other answers throughout the document with the exclusion of individual hyperlinks redirecting to the texts of the standards and the inclusion of the hyperlink to Food Topics Library;
b) Questions 5 and 6, which clarify the regulatory framework for food supplements and its updates;
c) Question No. 14, which informs on the second version of the Guide for the Instruction of the Procedure for the Request for Evaluation of Probiotics for Use in Foods;
d) Question No. 23, which clarifies the food supplements indicated for sublingual administration.
e) Question No. 37, with new wording on food supplements intended for children;
f) Question No. 40, updating the list of substances considered as doping substances by the World Anti-Doping Agency;
g) Question No. 41, with update of DRC No. 632/2022, which deals with trans fats in food; h) Question No. 41, with update of DRC No. 632/2022, which deals with trans fats in food;
h) Question No. 42, updating the rule on the admissibility of foreign pharmaceutical codes;
i) Question No. 45, on the documentation to be submitted for approval of bidding documents by Anvisa;
j) Question No. 49, on the nutritional value and compliance with the maximum limits of food supplements;
k) Question No. 51, with information on compliance with the deadline for the submission of contributions to Guide No. 16/2018, which deals with the determination of expiration dates of foodstuffs;
l) Question No. 55, on the main changes in the lists of constituents, limits of use, declarations and supplementary labeling of food supplements made by IN No. 102/2021;

For further information, you can access the original source in Portuguese

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Brazil – ANVISA publishes a question and answer guide on the recall of non-compliant food products

29/08/2022 / infoAlimentario

The purpose of the food recall procedure is to withdraw from the market batches of products that represent a risk or damage to the consumer’s health, immediately after knowledge of this need.
Within the framework of Good Manufacturing Practices, the company responsible for the product and the other companies in the production chain must implement control measures and an adequate methodology to evaluate deviations in order to intervene when necessary, with a view to ensuring food fit for human consumption.
Resolution RDC No. 655, dated March 30, 2022, establishes the criteria and procedures for the collection of food and for communication to Anvisa and consumers. There are two types of planned collection, voluntary collection and determined collection.
Voluntary collection is initiated by the company responsible for the product, providing greater agility for immediate and efficient withdrawal from the consumer market, considering the quality control measures adopted by the company.

For further information, you can access the original source in Portuguese

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Brazil – ANVISA authorizes the use of food additives and processing aids in several food categories

27/08/2022 / infoAlimentario

The National Sanitary Surveillance Agency (ANVISA in Portuguese) published the Resolution – RDC No. 740/2022 that authorizes the use of food additives and technological aids in various food categories.

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Brazil – Amendment on whole wheat flour in the Technical Regulation on the identity and quality of wheat flour

27/08/2022 / infoAlimentario

The Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Supply (MAPA in Portuguese) published the MAPA Ordinance No. 469/2022 that amends the Annex to the MAPA Normative Instruction No. 8, of June 2, 2005, on technical regulations on identity and quality of wheat flour. Whole Wheat Flour: product resulting from the crushing or milling of wheat (Triticumaestivum L.) or other species of wheat of the genus Triticum, where the anatomical components – starchy endosperm, bran and germ – are present in the typical proportion that occurs in intact grain, losses of up to 2% of the grain or 10% of the bran are allowed.

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Article – Two countries, similar practices: The political practices of the food industry influencing the adoption of key public health nutrition policies in Guatemala and Panama

27/08/2022 / infoAlimentario

Objective:

To identify the corporate political activity (CPA) strategies used by food industry actors during the development of two public health nutrition policies in Central America: Law #570 (taxation of sugar-sweetened beverages) in Panama, and Bill #5504 (labeling and food marketing regulations) in Guatemala.

Results:

Instrumental strategies included the establishment of relationships with policy makers and direct lobbying against the proposed public policies. Discursive strategies were mainly criticizing on the unfounded ground that they lacked evidence of effectiveness and will imply negative impacts on the economy. The industry pointed at individuals for making their own food choices, in order to shift the focus away from the role of its products in contributing to ill-health.

Conclusions:

We provide evidence of the political practices used by the food industry to interfere with the development and implementation of public health nutrition policies to improve diets in Central America. Policy makers, public health advocates and the public should be informed about those practices and develop counter-strategies and arguments to protect public and policies from the vested interests of the food industry.